The Arizona sentinel., 1887-08-13
A CURIOUS CASE.
An Interesting Story from a
 Lawyers Diary.

During the last week of September, 1870, 8 young man, giving his name as Charles Brackets, called upon me in great trouble. He asked me if 1 had private room. I arose at once, led the way to my consultation closet, closed the door and turned the key in the lock. I pointed him to the sofa, taking my own seat at the table.
 ''Now," said 1, "what is it, young manP"
 He started and caught his breath; and as he began to speak. l made up my mind that let tho case be what it would, he was not a guilty party. He was too fearful, toe troken-spirited and unhappy, for a criminal. The case, as he presented it, was as fol- lows:
 He was employed as book-keeper. and at times acted as cashier, in the wholesale establishment of Arnold, Merriam & Co. For a considerable time money had been missing from the funds of the firm, and at length suspicion had fallen upon himself Said he:
 'I am situated peculiarly. My moth- CT is an invalid; and have two sis ters-young ladies. We four live to- gether. My father died when I was only twelve. One of my sisters has to remain at home to take care of the house and to take care of mother; the other-two years younger than my self-gives music lessons when she can get pupils. Our little house our father left with mortgage on it of fifteen hundred dollars, which has remained ever since, until little more than four weeks ago. when we paid itoff."
 There he stopped. hesitated, and choked.
 How did you raise the money for that?" l asked, quietly.
 Must tell you, sirP" he returned, imploringly.
 Do you want me to defend you?"
 Yes sir!" he answered, quickly. 'I was sent to you by-by q man who said you would help me-"
 ''Then," I told him. '.you had bet ter trust me. If you do not"
 There he interrupted me by asking if would keep it secret. I told him he must trust me fully. I would do what was best; and of that he must leave me to judge. And after a little further hesitation he told me.
 A young gentleman, whose parents were wealthy, and who was himself well-off, had loved the understanding sister, Bella 8 long time; and they were to be married during the coming fall, and go at once to Europe. The young man was very anxious that his parents should not know, as they had other plans for his future. He Bella's affianced-had furnished the money for paying off the mortgage, and, also, for repairing the house. and he had made them all promise not to speak his name in connection with it.
 I suspected at once who the man was. He was a member of the same club with myself and several of us had felt sure that he contemplated matrimony, sub rosa. So I looked at my visitor smilingly, and said:
 ':It is Albert Christopherr'
 "Who told you?" he cried. in. won-. der
 Never mind" said l, ESQ long as you did not And Christopher sent you to meP'
 "Yes. sir"
 "All right Now go on and tell me what has been done"
 It appeared, from his further story, that Mir. Merriam had for several weeks suspected him, and when it had become known that the mortgage had been paid of, and when Bracket would not tell where the money had come from, but instead thereof trem- bled and turned pale, then the sus- picions became confirmed, or very nearly so.
 Two weeks ago." the young man went on, "Mr. Merriam gave me 8 package containing five hundred dol lars, and told me to carry it into Winthrop Sturgis' counting-room, and ask them to forward it to Colonel Wal ter Pennington, at Joliet Ill. Colonel Pennington was in business therein Joliet-and corresponded with both our houses. We had wool of him. Perhaps you know, sir, Sturgis is in the same line that we are in. Well. Sturgis had told our folks that he was going to make a remittance to the Colonel, and offered to take the sum they wished to forward and cover it in his check.
 "I carried the money to Sturgis' place, and in the counting-room found only his head book-keeper, Damon Wadleigh, at his desk. It was some where between one and two o'clock. I gave the money to Wadleigh. and he opened the package-it was scaled and counted it-iuSt five hundred dol